March 2012
The latest information is that SB 120 may be further delayed until April 2, 2012. While nothing is definite, that's an indication that the bill is running into difficulties gaining support. I will, of course, keep you updated.
March 16, 2012
I just received word that the House Local Government Committee hearing on the plan submittal bill has been cancelled for Monday. The new hearing date is March 26th.
If you have not yet made your position known, you now have some additional time to become involved and make your voice heard.
Remember, these legislators were elected to represent your interests, not those of paid lobbyists and special interest groups!
March 2012
I
just received word that the House Local Government Committee hearing on
the plan submittal bill has been cancelled for Monday. The new hearing
date is March 26th.
If you have not yet made your position known, you now have some additional time to become involved and make your voice heard.
Remember, these legislators were elected to represent your interests, not those of paid lobbyists and special interest groups!
I will send you an update you as soon as we have more information.
March 2012
The
interior design cartel's plan submittal bill narrowly passed the
Colorado Senate and is now before the House Local Government Committee
with a hearing scheduled Monday, March 19th.
Although
there have been some slight modifications to the bill, its main purpose
is to require construction code officials to receive and review
construction plans from "interior designers" (defined only as those who
have passed the NCIDQ exam, completed 2-4 years of design education from
an approved interior design program and have 2-4 years of full-time
interior design experience) and place in question the ability of anyone
else to submit plans even though they do not impact the life safety of
occupants
The Department of Regulatory Affairs has already
rejected this attempt to establish new regulations and restrictions on
the design community under the guise of public safety on three separate
occasions, but the ASID-lead cartel refuses to take no for an answer in
its quest to fence out its competition.
Please take a few moments
and send a quick note in opposition to the Members of the House Local
Government Committee. Protect your right to work in Colorado and stand
up to the blatant attempt by these industry insiders to limit their
competition.
Click here for a sample letter.
CO House Local Government Committee:
KATHLEEN CONTI kathleen.conti.house@state.co.us
RHONDA FIELDS rhonda.fields.house@state.co.us
BOB GARDNER bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
JAMES KERR james.kerr.house@state.co.us
JEANNE LABUDA jeanne.labuda.house@state.co.us
PETE LEE pete.lee.house@state.co.us
SAL PACE sal.pace.house@state.co.us
JOHN SOPER john.soper.house@state.co.us
LAURA BRADFORD laurabradford55@gmail.com - Chair
LIBBY SZABO libby.szabo.house@state.co.us - Vice-chair
Keith SWERDFEGER keith.swerdfeger.house@state.co.us
Feb 2011
SB 67 Dies in Committee
Interior design bill voted down
We've just received news that the Colorado interior design bill was heard in Committee today and was rejected by a vote of 5 to 2. Only the sponsor and one other legislator voted for the bill.
Thank you to everyone in the design community who took the time to contact your legislators. Special thank you to Mike Luzier, and lobbyist Micki Hackenberger for their hard work in defeating SB 67.
Since the bill was not evaluated by DORA, it will likely be back next year.
February 2011
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2/7/11
Wednesday's hearing on Senate Bill 110-67 to register interior designers concluded with the Chair sending the bill to the Department of Regulatory Agencies for a "sunrise" evaluation. This was the action IDPC requested the Committee take.
DORA is "dedicated to preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado." A sunrise review examines whether or not there is a need to regulate a previously unregulated occupation or profession. Importantly, DORA may decline reviews in the case of a repeat application with no new information provided. That is precisely the case here.
In December of 2008, DORA conducted an extensive and thorough examination of the interior design Cartel's claim that such regulations were necessary to protect the public. The Department examined every jurisdiction which had some form of interior design regulation, as well as information gathered from ASID, the Colorado Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, the Attorney General Consumer Protection Section, and the Denver/Boulder Better Business Bureau, and found absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support the assertion that additional regulation of the design community was necessary to protect the "health, safety and welfare" of the public.
Accordingly, DORA concluded that regulation of the profession was not needed. Nothing has changed since the DORA report was issued barely 2 years ago... other than that Colorado's economy has worsened, the State's unemployment rate has risen to a 20 year high of 8.8%, and its budget deficit has increased to an estimated $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2011-2012. It makes even less sense today to regulate designers than it did in 2008.
We are confident that DORA will reach the same conclusion as it did last time and that the bill will not pass out of Committee. We will, of course, continue to monitor the bill and let you know as soon as we have anything new to report.
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Action Needed to STOP SB 11-067
IDPC Colorado Members,
Senate Bill 11-067 will impact your ability to practice the full scope of interior design, as well as place you at an unfair competitive marketing disadvantage.
To protect your rights, you must do two things:
- Attend the hearing
- Contact the members of the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee
The hearing on this design registration bill which will establish a state-sanctioned title for interior designers and prohibit the filing of interior design plans and specifications by anyone other than a designer who is registered is scheduled for hearing on February 2, 2011 in Room 354 at 1:30 pm.
This bill will create the title of Colorado Registered Interior Designer and prohibit anyone who is not a Registered Interior Designer (or an architect or engineer) from preparing interior design documents and specifications for interior finishes of a building or structure of any size, height, and occupancy and filing it for purposes of obtaining approval for a building permit. To become registered, you must:
- have 6 years of formal education and experience, with at least 2 years of diversified internship,
AND
- pass the NCIDQ exam, which has historically had a 40% first-time passage rate for all 3 sections and can cost $2,000 or more to take.
This bill will absolutely impact your ability to compete in the fair and open market.
THERE ARE NO EXEMPTIONS INCLUDED IN THE BILL! ALL IT WILL DO IS PROHIBIT THE MAJORITY OF DESIGNERS AND CONTRACTORS FROM SUBMITTING NONSTRUCTURAL PLANS TO BUILDING DEPARTMENTS.
Further, the bill will divide the design community into those who are recognized by the state as having some sort of special skill and expertise...and all others who are unable to become state registered -- making you a second class citizen in your field. Certainly, the public will attach undue added value to state recognition and place you at an unfair competitive disadvantage in seeking work. Why should the state help a small group of designers market their services over those of their competitors? They should compete on the merits of their ability, portfolio and client references and let the client decide.
Director, IDPC
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Jan 2011
Heads Up!
Colorado design community:
A bill to regulate interior design has been introduced in the legislature and scheduled for hearing on February 2, 2011 in the Capitol Building.
If allowed to pass, this bill WILL impact your right to practice.
IDPC members and sponsors -- you will shortly be receiving more information on the hearing, bill analysis, talking points, legislator contact information, sample letters and all other updates pertinent to defeating this bill.